Just a simple life note of me

I celebrating Christmas at Yahukimo, Papua. So sad, because should leave my beloved family in Jogja. But, celebrating in remote area inside jungle of Papua, make me think that the Christmas is not just about a party, but go deep into feel about how God save us.

At 2001, my mailbox full of email advertising that delivered from may sources. That are first spam on the Internet for me. And then, SEO spam. I wondering how people create every way to increase rank of their website with content that just a crap. Copy from another sources and create auto generated content.

In the social networking era, then spamming still grow in another way. For example, I got so many friend request in Facebook, then finally after they become my friend then tag anything they sell, like clothes, watches, cars, and so many things. That's crazy!

I just check in some website that they offers pay per 'fan' or pay per 'like' on Facebook pages. Or pay per member in Facebook groups. That's also crazy!

Twitter, as one of social networking tools got a lot of bot that create so many spam things. Because, it's very easy to join Twitter, somebody then create bot to make a fake profile with fake followers. Then they commercialize their account for pay per tweet. They got more money per tweet when they have more follower. But, did the advertisers ever check how many of the followers actually read the tweet by check the number of retweets or replies? Or just check the number of followers? For me, good twitter users are the users that have high quantity and high quality followers. I'm not good one. I got little followers and some of them just a bot.

Now, someone is informing me about pay per retweet. So, what the hell is it? Then social media contaminates with junk and garbage contents that generated by bot or human with unnatural behavior. Don't waste your money for the garbage! I support for natural and good behavior of social networking!

I just upgrade my Akismet plugin to version 2.5.1. But after update them, I got messages from the system:

Akismet has detected a problem. A server or network problem prevented Akismet from checking 1 comment. It has been temporarily held for moderation and will be automatically re-checked in 13 mins.

Then I got so many email containing SPAM comment waiting for moderation. Maybe I have problem with my hosting server or Akismet server have some problem, but after check in Akismet Configuration menu, it said that All Akismet servers are available. After did searching in Google, I got that some users got same problem. So, that not just my problem.

I visited Singapore just in 4 hours, transit on the way from Bangkok to Jakarta. So, I don't have much time to visit some facilities in Singapore. I just visited Merlion and Orchad Rd. to met Agus, my friend who working at Plasa Singapura. Then back to Changi using MRT for the next flight to Jakarta.

Actually I have some list that I want to do in Singapore beside meet my friends:

1. Singapore FlyerAt a height of 165m, Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel and is set to be one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions.

2. Universal Studios SingaporeI want to meet the magic here. I love some cartoons from Universal Studios. The cheapest way for me to enjoy Universal Studio is by visit Singapore, because it's very near from Indonesia.

3. Marina Bay Sands Skypark SingaporeMarina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land. I hope someone will give me a hotel voucher, so I not just visit the sands skypark, but also be a guest that stay here.

Yes, someday I should visit Singapore again. Better if there is someone that will cover my expenses to Singapore. FYI, Yogyakarta-Singapore return trip just need less than USD 100 using promo tickets of Air Asia.

This morning, when my teeth is a little bit pain because drink ice, the I thing about dental insurance. Dental insurance is insurance designed to pay a portion of the costs associated with dental care.

I just think that in Indonesia only have insurance related to general medical service, but after searching some sources, there are many health insurance that cover dental care. They give the policy as added service. Just ask your insurance consultant to get your dental care covered with insurance. Of course you should pay more for the added insurance coverage.

When I visited Thailand in last month (Nov, 2010) for Thailand Medical Tourism blog Contest, the finalist split into 6 groups. My group is with Malaysian blogger, Wilson, from placesandfoods.com. He travel around the world. But currently he is working at Focus Image Televideo, an advertising company in Malaysia (psstt.. it's a family-owned company).

Wilson and myself are example of part-time traveler, but with our business, we still able to travel around the world. So, what is the idea behind this? You still can travel around the world and still have a job! I mean that this is formal job, not like a freelance job.

The main key is: find the company that give you flexibility to travel around. Off course it good when you have job that give bonus free travel when you have an achievement. Consultant, sales and marketing, manager are some jobs that usually give travel bonus from the achievement.

Or if you prefer to traveling but still in the job area, you can be a technical support in international company. Sometimes you should travel around the world to do field support. My friend is working at offshore oil company and can travel around the world, because the company give 1 month on field and then 1 month for holiday!

My journey to many places and meet many people make me know many kinds of lifestyle. From people that have no job, work at home, work in office, work on the street, work in the government. From beggar, official, criminals, I have met them.

But, from all of them, I can split into 2 kind of person, one with passion, and one is without passion. And from that, I feel comfortable and motivated when talking with person that have a passion. I met some people that enjoy their life by teach children in remote areas, that only can reached by small airplane. I met people that enjoy with their office life. Last month, I met Gary Arndt and Nellie Huang, persons that enjoy their life by traveling around the world with nomad life.

To meet your passion, you should find your purpose of life. Searching something that give your life a meaning. Passion will make your spirit rise up. The spirit will give a strong motivation for someone to reach out and catch what's on his mind and what is in his heart.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Saturday night is a good night to spent with your family. But, if you have young spirit, you can try to spend money to buy some drink. Actually, I don't drink alcohol, but it's okay to me to drink one shot of Nescafe or Cocacola :)

I curious when got book titled Tipple Thai from Ms. Jidapa Julakasilp. I just think that book contain recipes of herbs. But, the book not about herbs, but contains recipes of cocktails inspired by Thai fruits, herbs and alcohol. The mixologists are: Justin Dunne, Dannie Joel Sorum, Ben David Sorum, and Johan Davidsson.

Besides the recipes, you can get a lot of information about nightlife in Bangkok. So, if you want to spend this weekend in Bangkok and want to enjoy night life in a club, you can read the book. Because this is a book about alcohol, those who may be susceptible to reactions from alcohol should be mindful of some of the products used in these recipes. The elderly, pregnant women, and those suffering from immune deficiency diseases and heart diseases, should consult their doctor before sampling the drink listed.

I just finished install Wordpress in multiuser mode. This is easy, because Wordpress version 3.xx or above already support multiuser. So, why I decided to install multiuser?

The main problem is language. Sometimes I posted in English, and sometimes in Indonesian language. If I just post in one website the posting will be mixed, and maybe will be annoying readers. Last time I want to use translation plugins, but actually I don't have much time to translate each post. Using automated translator? No, I don't want use them because I often got weird translation.
I just want to manage the similar blog with different language, in a single system. The simplest thing to do is installing Wordpress in multiuser mode. Now, I have 2 blogs, one under domain www.wahyu.com, than contains all my posts in English, and id.wahyu.com that contain my post in Bahasa Indonesia.

I follow instructions on http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network and then successfully setup this system. I hope by splitting different language in different posting can make readers easily read the articles they want.

PS: I still keep all my old posting in Indonesian language at domain wahyu.com, just to maintain sustainability and contingency.

Someday, my friend in my village ask me, why Malaysia is truly Asia? I haven't visit Malaysia before, so at the time I can't answer his question. But, I have so many friends living there and the topic is very interesting for me. Then I did a little research and asked my friends about their perception about Malaysia. My neighbor is Indonesian people who few years ago worked in Malaysia. He said that he take some good experience by worked at there. I also asked my wife about Malaysia, because she visited the country in 2006 for holiday. She said, in economic view, the development in Malaysia is growing so fast, and they have good tourism destination.

I have some friends born, grew and living in Malaysia. From what they said to me, there are many people from China, India, and Melayu. Asia is the biggest and most diversified continent in the world and what my friend said give me a little clue that the people of Malaysia represents majority ethnic in Asia, and they have their own tradition and culture. About diversity, people in Malaysia celebrate The Chinese New Year (for Chinese), Christmas (For Christians), Gawai / Tadau Kaamatan (For Kadazan / Iban), Deepavali (For Indian Hindus) and the celebration considered as national holidays.

Then I go back to the word "truly Asia". The brand is published by Tourism Malaysia since 1999. This brand also has won more than 25 international creative and marketing effectiveness awards, including the winner on "Asia's Best Long-Term Marketing and Branding Campaign" in Media Magazine's Asian Marketing Effectiveness Awards, held in Macau in 2008.

That explanation still can't give me the right answer about why Malaysia is truly Asia. The only answer to me about why Malaysia is truly Asia is only by visit, feel and enjoy the trip to Malaysia.

Finally, at Sunday morning I just landed at Adisutjipto Airport Yogyakarta. There are so many experiences that I got from Thailand. This is my first time I visit Thailand.

First, I saw the organizer is well performing to gave us luxury services and experience about Thailand worth more than USD 5000 (source: price list). Airline tickets from Yogyakarta to Bangkok, Luxury guides, Luxury Lunch and Dinner, Ticket from Bangkok to Phuket, Stayed 2 nights at Fusion Suites Bangkok, 2 nights at Sri Panwa Phuket, 1 night at Sukko Spa Phuket, and 1 night at Conrad Bangkok. I also got free medical treatments and free trip to some tourism objects. Good job, two thumbs up!

And the last, what will I do when get the main prize? After discussed with my friends and my family, we have a little plan donate them for disaster victims, because they need the money to recover their life, and the other reason is because I think I already got the main award prize: great experience and met great persons!

When I said long journey, I'm not in hyperbolic speech. This is true long journey. After selected as one of Thailand Medical Tourism Blog Contest finalists, I got airline ticket to flying from Yogyakarta on Sunday, 21th Nov 2010 using Garuda Indonesia connecting with Singapore Airlines.

FYI, flying from Yogyakarta to Jakarta take about 55 minutes. Using car need about 12 hours, and using executive train need about 8-10 hours.

Then, Garuda contact me and said that the flight is cancelled. So I went to Garuda office to get re-schedule, but this is weekend, and all seats fully booked. Despite of gambling with airport and weather condition, I decided to get a train ticket.

Once again, queue in the ticketing office at Tugu Train Station Yogyakarta is very long because many people change their transportation from airplane to other alternatives (car, bus, and train).

Thanks to PT Kereta Api, because we can book and buy ticket online, so I bought one. Now, I'm on the way to Jakarta, and I hope everything is okay so I can arrive to Bangkok on time.

Adisutjipto airport Yogyakarta still closed for 2 weeks because Merapi Volcano eruption haven't go to stable condition. Volcano ash still pollute the sky, so it very dangerous for flight.

In the history, volcano ash of Mount Galunggung (1982) in Java ever made engines failure of a Boeing 747 immediately after enter the ash cloud. Fortunately, 3 of 4 engine successfully started again and landed safely at Jakarta.

The transportation authority of Indonesia close Adisutjipto Airport of Yogyakarta (IATA: JOG) until 20 November 2010.

Alternatively, people in Yogyakarta who want to fly to another cities can depart from Adisumarmo Airport Solo (IATA: SOC) or by train from Tugu Rail Station (I call it in slang language "Bandarel Tugusutjipto").

I hope Merapi Volcano back soon to the good condition so the airport will be opened because I have trip plan from Yogyakarta to Thailand on 21 Nov 2010. But the most important is I hope Yogyakarta recovered, so the refugees and life victims can back to the home to build their life again.

The Medical Blog Contest, organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is aimed at promoting medical tourism within the Kingdom. The competition is open to each individual blogger who has acceptable experience in writing tourism, medical or medical tourism related blogs in English language and/or bloggers' local language. 12 qualified bloggers, also known as Finalists, will be selected to experience for themselves pre-selected key medical and health service providers (e.g. Hospital, clinic, spa) from five randomly selected destinations (Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui) over the course of 4 consecutive days, and then 3 more in Bangkok. The TAT and/or Organizer will also arrange a variety of sightseeing tours for Finalists, so further encouraging Thailand’s attractiveness as a medical tourism hub.

I hope everything going great, and I can learn and post more about Thailand tourism promotion by experiencing the medical tourism journey, so everyone can learn about how Thailand transform their health service into medical tourism service for foreigner. For information about the finalists is located at the website of medical blog contest.

This early morning at 2.00 GMT+7, our family wake up because ash rain of Merapi Volcano eruption. My house is about 20km north west of the volcano mountain.

A lot of people around Merapi in radius of 3-5 kilometers lost their home because of hot cloud from Merapi. More than 10 killed in the accident, including Mbah Maridjan, the legendary gate keeper of Merapi.

Merapi is nice mountain to visit when in silent condition. I hope everything is fine and everything will be back soon.

I very interested with Medical Tourism the topics. Western patients are increasingly traveling to developing countries for health care and developing countries are increasingly offering their skills and facilities to paying foreign customers. This is more than 20 billion dollar business and the expert said that the amount double in 2010. From simple health care like spa to big surgery. In Thailand they offer sex change surgery! OMG!

So, if you want to do a Medical Tourism, or you just want to cure your sickness together with traveling, I recommend you to read these books before booking a seat:

This day, Friday Pon, is my lucky day. After put and paid the order last week, I got the book Investment Valuation: Tools and Techniques for Determining the Value of Any Asset Second Edition, written by Aswath Damodaran.

I use this book to learn business valuation. I hear that many business appraiser using this book to valuing a company or business. This book explains the valuation process from the ground up and offers you some of the most flexible approaches to valuing assets.In fact, the valuations will be constantly updated online, so you can have a closer link to real-time valuations.

The book is printed in black and white, so everyone can easily to copy and there are so many soft-copy of this book that can downloaded on the Internet. But, to respect Mr. Damodaran's work, I advise you to buy the original version at the local bookstore or buy online via website.

This book is a paperback with 992 pages published by Wiley, 2nd edition (December 21, 2001). ISBN-10: 0471414905 and ISBN-13: 978-0471414902.

The main secret and miracle of sickness is on the medicine located near of us. So, if you got cough in Indonesia, the natural herbal medicine / remedies is just around your house.

Mayana (Scientific name: Plectranthus scuttelarioides (L.) R. Br.) is ornamental plants that growing around the house in Sulawesi and Philipine. With the beauty of it's leaf, the leaves have potential ability as a drug. Researcher said that Mayana leaf works to heal bruises, contusions, swellings, and headache (Source).

Toraja people eat the Mayana leaves as a vegetable for everyday meal. If you have severe cough and pneumonia, you ca try eat Mayana leaf. It has bitter taste, but efficacious to cure the cough and lung disease. Some people cured with just one week, but some people with severe disease can took up to 3 month of consumption.

Too skeptic with my question? I have two different stories to share with you about this week. First, story about successful rescue to 33 miners at Chile. Thirty-three miners were found alive after 17 days trapped in a collapsed mine. Hopes are high on the ordeal of 33 trapped gold miners. The result, all of 33 trapped miners successfully evacuated from the depth of 700 meters below ground.

Second, US Financial Crisis resulted in the collapse of large financial institutions and downturns in economic growth around the world. Some of economic actors too greedy. They want more money without supported with the fundamental by created system that generate economic bubble. Then it created big economic disparities between rich and poor countries because they use almost all money in the bubble schema then it blew up.

So, what is the moral of the stories? The main keyword is hope. In the first case, hope are high, everyone pray for successful of the evacuation processes. The second, not all nations agree about US to be recovered when they still greedy and arrogant to other nations.

Urban growth and the concentration of people in urban areas are creating societal problems. Today I learn from Dr. Socia Priharwanto about urban economics. The problem with urban development and urban management lies on characteristics of the urban society itself.

The main characteristic of urban environment are:

Horizontal growth exceeds vertical (urban sprawl)
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses (e.g. stores and residential), and various design features that encourage car dependency.

Center of urban activity (CBD: high density, traffic jams, pollution, industrial)
A central business district (also called a central activities district) is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. Thamrin, Sudirman and Kuningan District is the main business district in Jakarta, Indonesia. This area began to be developed by the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno around the year 1950, together with the Jakarta plans to host the Asian Games in 1960.

Specialization and segregation of land use
1. Innovation of technology and transportation systems
2. The separation between the residence to the workplace
3. Rapid development of CBD

Stability and land-use change
Land use in urban area changed from it's first use to another. For example, farm field modified to be a residential, or industry area based on urban planning. Historical land use patterns together with current trends in a region can be used to create model of future land use.

I want to spark-up you mind with question from me about small business is: why small when you can create big home-based business?

Many of family wish to have home-based business to create added value and revenue. But, without good planning and management, the business will go to the great destruction. Not all home-based people know about business and management, or maybe know business and management but won't start because fear of failure. That should not become obstacles to starting a business.

So, what is the business idea from my mind?1. Agency / ResellerYou can sell everything from your home using internet or sell anything to your friends and neighbor. You just find what they needs, then you creating or find products that match with their requirement. You can get some fee from the sales.

2. HandicraftMy neighbor at Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta do some handicraft job. They get material from the agent, create the handicraft (wallet, imitation flower) at home then the agent will pick it up and they get fee from the job.

3. WriterYou can write a book or articles then send it to publisher and you get some fee. Or maybe write good articles and put it on you blog. If your article is good, you will get many readers and you can get revenue from advertising.

That just some small idea. My answer for my own question above: do not be greedy, start with small things, then stepped into a big thing, but the main key of business is start now.

Thailand is one of exotic destinations in Southeast Asia. The government is improving their support in Manufacture Industry and Tourism.

Some of real estate developers at Yogyakarta give family travel package for their customer as bonus. Few years ago, they offer free travel to Singapore and Malaysia for everyone who bought their real estate products. But now, with price war or airline tickets, and free fiscal for Indonesian citizen (registered tax-payer) who want to go abroad, travel is cheaper. Then, the trend in 2010 is a free travel to Thailand.

Special Region of Yogyakarta Province have 3185.80 km2 area and about 3.4 million population. Yogyakarta also have main revenue from educations service and tourism. There are so many students (domestic and foreign) studying at Yogyakarta.

Yesterday I got mail (not an email) from Google with information about Google Adwords. I already have Adwords account few years ago to promote Global Intermedia. The fun thing, Google gave me free advertising voucher in the amount of ID 400,000. I think Google have my address from Google Adsense account.

After I read carefully the steps inside the mail to enter voucher code in the Adwords account, I dissapointed, because it written that voucher can only used on a new account (maximum 14 days old).

Electric motorcycle is one of a wide range of electric powered vehicles. For automotive enthusiasts who follow the development of technology has certainly know that almost all the leading automotive companies compete to create vehicles with alternative power sources other than gasoline or hydrogen fuel cells.

This morning our family have new member, a Betrix The Ice. The Ice is an electric bike made in Taiwan. The seller said that by using this bicycle, I only cost me IDR 500 (USD 0.06) a day for maintenance. Compared with our car daily use (IDR 25000 / USD 2.7 a day for just gasoline) and after did some math and calculation, I got cost about IDR 4000 a day until it's my-own-estimated terminal value. We finally decided to buy this electric bicycle for daily use, because my home to my workplace is only about 7 km and I promise to reduce the cost of car use to compensate with daily cost of Betrix. I hope it will reduce the total of my our family spends each month.

Betrix have so many variants, including electric scooter. But, I prefer using The Ice, because it's like a bicycle, rather than scooter or motorcycle. After I tested the cycle, it have maximum cruising speed 40 km/h and maximum cruising range for about 60 km.

Before decided to buy electric vehicle, our family decided to buy a conventional bicycle, but after knew that the pricing is almost same compared with Betrix, we decided to buy this. I think we have no problem with conventional use of Betrix by cycling it using our foot because our family do routine exercise using 'bike simulator' (this is an fitness/fat burner toolkit but I call it simulator) everyday and burn about 50-100cal.

With my Electrical Engineering degree, I have crazy mind that someday after the guarantee card is expired I'll put some solar cell charger into its body, so it will charging in daylight without need external power except 'hybrid power' with my foot.

Everyone know that our governments (central or regional) have lack support for asset management. This including planning, development, and maintenance.

What is in your mind when I said the word 'underground'. Underground community? Underground music? NFS Underground game? I don't talk about them. Since I got real estate valuation an asset management course from MEP UGM, I want to start idea about asset management in public sector of Republic of Indonesia.

The main problem of planning is no integration between department. Public sector projects dig soil more than one time. First, they dig soil to create drinking water infrastructure that provided by local water company (PDAM - Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum). After the water company hoard the soil, then electrical company dig the soil again to put electrical cable infrastructure. This is not the end, because after that process, telecommunication company dig the soil again to put their communication cable. After that, oil company dig again to put oil pipe.

Then, the nightmare will be happen. Sometimes, because their mapping not integrated, there are infrastructure damage. One of the example, when local water company dug the soil, they accidentally cut the cables of telecommunication company. Or, property developer dug soil to create building foundation, then make damage to water pipe.

The source of this problem is because lack of planning. Every department think that every job is a project. Projects mean money. The other problem is lack of documentation. After regeneration process (maybe the old staff who created the infrastructure already retired or move to another department, the successors don't know where the cables or pipes are located.

The solution? First, every department should have coordination when do some project planning, so, they just dig soil one time and everything will put together. How about maintenance? Government can coordinate to create integrated underground infrastructure map using Geographic Information system (GIS), so each one know where is their infrastructure, so when someone late in a project, then need to dig soil again, they can know what are the infrastructures that located under the ground to avoid damage.

A celebrity (sometimes referred to as a celeb in popular culture) is easily recognized in a society or culture. Generally speaking, a celebrity is someone who gets media attention and shows an extroverted personality.

Wikipedia support my thesis that most people at Pesta Blogger Jogja 2010 are celebrities, because most of them are easily recognized in blogger society. Maybe taxy driver at Jombor Bus Station near my house did not recognize them, but people in the blogger community may know them and became fans or follower.

Computer have screen like TV. Our unconscius mind maybe have 'automatic consideration' that every person that shown at TV screen are celebrity. Internet already make history that person can be famous just posting something unique content on the Internet. From Yogyakarta we have Tony Blank (prolove separatos!) with his video on the internet (I regret he did not come at the blogger party).

So, why did you not write on a blog or create someting valuable in the internet to be a celebrities? However, thanks to a committee of the party who've worked hard for the success of this event. Great job!

I received the sad news that Wasior hit by flash floods at Monday, October 4th 2010. Flood destroyed almost all infrastructure and killed more than 100 people. Nearly 4,000 residents were evacuated to Manokwari and Nabire.

I once visited Wasior in 2006. At that time they're starting to build the infrastructure, because Teluk Wondama (Wondama Gulf) is a New Regency. Wasior is a place with beautiful sea views with a backdrop of mountains near Nabire. Wasior can be reached by ship from Manokwari with about 15 hours. Wasior has a harbor that could accommodate large ships from PELNI. This place also has its own airport which can be reached by small aircraft (Twin Otter, Pilatus Porter, Cessna Grand Caravan) from Airport Rendani, Manokwari with about 40 minutes.

I pray that Wasior will soon recover and I am sorry for the victims of flood disasters. Here are my photo memories when visited Wasior at end of year 2006.

As national flag carrier with first class services, Garuda Indonesia offer ticket that more expensive than other Indonesian airlines. To compete with other cheap airlines, Garuda Indonesia have subsidiary called Citilink. But, from my experience, there is a way to obtain cheap airline ticket from Garuda Indonesia.

Garuda Indonesia have economy and business class. I will not review about business class. My first and last seat in business class was on December 2008 from Jayapura to Jakarta, and the price was hurting my pocket! For economy class, Garuda Indonesia have fare class H, V, B, Q, N, K, L, M, and Y. Fare class H is cheapest and class Y is most expensive.

There are few tricks to booking cheap ticket from Garuda Indonesia:

1. Do booking long time before departure date.
Book for about 3-4 weeks before departure to get seat available. But, sometimes, you can go online and do booking in before departure at 4 AM (GMT+7), because they sometimes open promo tickets in that hour, but it too risky. You even can't get a seat if in peak season.

2. Booking via internet
After open Internet booking service, Garuda Indonesia provide promo class H and V only on Internet booking. Always check best deals on the Garusa Indonesia's website, and if you have a lucky day, you can get cheap ticket. The requirement is you should have credit card that allow online payment. But, friend of mine don't have a credit card, then he book it on the website, get booking code, then call the Garuda Indonesia call center 0804 1 807807 or +62 21 2351 9999.

3. Direct booking in the local branch
Sometimes local branch can issue a cheap ticket, but it's very rare. Once again, if you have lucky day, you can get promo ticket from the branch. But, too often check fare in branch is embarassing, so to check good price anytime, check via their website. The exception, if you have relative or friend in Garuda Indonesia company, you may ask them for a cheap tickets.

One of the problems that exist in traveling abroad is a health issue. To avoid this health problem, we must not ignore health protection.

We must provide health insurance for travel abroad. This insurance can be very useful if something happens to us. Many people who travel abroad without health care insurance, and when they fall sick, they do not have a way to pay for treatment. Health insurance for travel abroad is a must and you should never travel without one.

Health insurance for foreign travel will include medical assistance you need. This means it will take a fee like going to the doctor, pay for prescription drugs and / or hospital. You should take health insurance depending on which country you want to visit. If you go to developed countries where health care is good, you take the insurance that only covers the cost of treatment. However, if you're planning a trip to developing countries, you should make sure you take a broad health insurance which includes evacuation if necessary.

Most travel insurance on offer valid for travel around the world. There are valid for one trip for two weeks, a month, or more. There is also a travel insurance valid for travel several times within a certain time. Like all insurance, you also need to carefully read it. Is insurance included bungee jumping or whitewater rafting? Are there certain countries that at a certain time are exempt from insurance?

Some travel insurance also offer extra features, for example: repatriation of bodies, evacuation, including bringing family members to accompany you in the hospital. Some have insurance that provides cash when the departure is delayed, or lost luggage.

I have friend who regularly go to overseas to get medical treatment. In the tourism sector, it called medical tourism. Medical tourism is practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. In the Southeast Asia, there are some countries that provide health-care for foreigner, including: Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore.

I want to review one of developing country that provide medical tourism. Thailand is a good example, because they offer world class services with reasonable rate. Treatments for medical tourists in Thailand range from cosmetic, organ transplants, cardiac, and orthopaedic treatments to dental and cardiac surgeries. Treatments for tourist also include spa, physical and mental therapies.

The main challenge for countries that provide medical tourism is accreditation. The medical service provider should obtain good reputation with international standard, so the patients can enjoy the service without fear of malpractice because the physicians hold professional certification.

Papua was divided into 2 area, namely West Papua (Irian Jaya, Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea. The land boundary between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea stretches for some 750 kilometers located straight at 141 degree East. Maybe border between Papua and Papua new Guineae is most straight country border in the world.

People in West Papua speak with Indonesian Language and people in Papua New Guniea speak English. So, if you want to travel to Papua, you should know where the country is. If you want to go West Papua, you should have VISA from Government of Republic of Indonesia. If you want to visit Papua island in the east area, you should have permit from Government of Papua New Guinea.

Sometimes if you accidentally landing in Indonesian area and then you want to continue journey to Papua New Guineae, you can get permit from Papua New Guinea embassy at Jayapura, so you can visit Papua New Guinea from Jayapura using car to border area in Wutung then enter Papua New Guinea with pass from the Embassy. The after entering Papua New Guinea area, you can rent a car that already standby in the border area and continue journey to Vanimo for about 4 hours. From Vanimo, you can fly to Port Moresby using Air Nugini.

The problem with straight border is, some villages in border area located in both country. So, it's very difficult to determine nationality of the people in the villages. In the border area there are tade between both country. Many people in Papua New Guineae using Telkomsel (Indonesian GSM/cellular provider) to communicate each other in border area. They also buy electronic and other goods from Indonesia in the market in Wutung. It's very easy because we don't need Passport to walk across the border in about 500 meters area. The market located inside the area. Just get permit from Army and border security by showing ID card the we can go to each other and shopping in the market.

Last month I and my family did a travel to Bali. My first visit to Bali was in 1999 while still in high school. After that I often visited the island to complete the projects in Bali and sometimes only transit to go to Jayapura.

Here is the route we passed:

First Day
The first day our family arrived at lunch time, so we are looking for a hotel in advance. We chose a hotel on Jl Tukad Batanghari, Denpasar. For those who like to surf, you can choose a hotel in Kuta Beach area. However, if you prefer to go around Bali, you should find the hotel in the middle of town, because the road to Kuta Beach is often jammed, especially during the holiday season.

In the evening, we spent the time to enjoy the sunset at Kuta Beach.

Day Two
In the morning, we traveled to Benoa Beach, where we played parasailing and visiting Turtle Island. On the Island some workers are breeding turtles and some other animals. We had pictures taken with the animals there.

Then we went into dreamland, and continue the trip to Uluwatu. Uluwatu Kecak dance was held, at an entry cost of IDR 70000 per person. After Uluwatu, we continue to enjoy the sunset at Jimbaran and enjoying a meal at the beachside restaurant.

Third Day
We did a trip to Kintamani passing performances Barong Dance, Ubud Village, then enjoy lunch at a restaurant with Lake Kintamani view. The next trip we visited the Tampaksiring Palace, the resting place of President of the Republic of Indonesia when he was in Bali. Because the time is night, we went back to the hotel.

Day Four

We continue the journey to Bedugul. Next we stopped for a moment in Joger shop to buy shirts with the funny and unique words. Our trip that day ended in Tanah Lot, and we enjoy the beautiful sunset there.

Fifth Day
We passed the fifth day by doing a photo in Bali traditional dress, and shopping to buy gift for family in Jogja.

Sixth Day
Packing, then go to the Ngurah Rai Airport, return to Yogyakarta.

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